Switch-point protector



Aug. 24, 192e. r 1,597,255

R. E. WEEDQN SWITCH POINT PROTECTOR Filed April 2, 1926 guna/Loi R. Edwin wcdon .Patented Aug. 24, 1926.

RICHARD EDWIN WEEIJON, 0F WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

SWITCH-POINT PROTECTOR.

Application filed April 2, 1926. Serial lrfo. 99,300.

The invention relates to railway switches and .more particularly to protective means therefor, whereby the life of the switch point is materially prolonged and the shape preserved, which is essential to safetyv and the proper working of the switch. A

A further purpose of the invention is to mount the protector on the switch point, thereby preventing the weakening of the track rail and insuring the same being unobstructed when the adjacent switch point is moved away therefrom, as when closing the switch to the opposite track rail.

lVhile the drawings illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention it is to be un derstood that in adapting the means to meet specific needs and requirements, the design may be varied and such other changes in the minor details of construction may be resorted to within the scope of the invention as claimed, without departing from the spirit thereof.

For a full understanding of the invention and the merits thereof, reference is to be had to the following description and the drawings hereto attached, in which- Figure l is a fragmentary side view of a switchpoint and track rail provided with protective means for the switch point ein bodying the invention,

Figure 2 is an end view of the protector, showing it associated with a track rail which is indicated in section, and

Figure 3 is a top plan view of the parts illustrated in Figure l, a` portion of the head of the track rail being broken away.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following` description and designated in the several views of the drawings by like reference characters.

The numeral l designa-tes a track rail and 2 a switch point of ordinary construction, illustrated to demonstrate the application of the invention.

An arm 3 is secured at Vone end to the switch point 2 in any substantial and preferred way and projects from said point in line therewith, the projecting end being reduced to receive the protector and having the terminal portion threaded to receive a nut 4 which serves as means to retain the protector uponthe rejecting end of the arm. As indicated,t e arm 3 is secured to the switch point 2 by means of rivets 5, however, it is to be understood that the arm may be attached to the Switchpoint in any determinate way.

The protector comprises a tubular body Gand oppositely disposed wings 7 which are ofsimilar formation to admit of either of the wings occupying an operative position. The protector is` preferably made of` manganese steel, so as to resist wear. The open' ing of the tubular body 6 is of non-circular outline and obtains a snug iit upon the outer reduced portion of the arm 3 and is thus prevented from turning thereon. The wings 7 are disposed approximately at diagonally opposite points of the tubular body, as indicated most clearly in Figure 2, and one side of each is fiat and the opposite side transversely and longitudinally curved, as indicated most clearly in Figures 2 and 3.

The iiat side of the wings is disposed to lie` against the side of the head of the track rail l and the transversely and longitudinally curved side is adapted to face outwardly, or away from the head of the track rail, to offer little or no resistance to the contact of the wheel flange therewith, when engaging and riding over the protector. Then one of the wings of the protector becomes worn or otherwise uniitted for eifective service, the protector is removed from the arm 3 and reversed to bring the opposite wing in active position.

By mounting the protector upon the switch point it moves therewith and is held away from the track rail when the adjacent switch point is moved laterally therefrom, and in consequence, the track rail is unobstructed and is not weakened, as would be the case if the protector were attached din rectly thereto. The end of the arm 3 attached to the switch point is iiattened and disposed against that side of the switch point facing the track rail and, as a result, a portion of the arm and a portion of the tubular body 6 extends into the space formed between the head and foot of the rail when the switch point is closed thereagainst, as indicated most clearly in Figures 2 and 3.

t is also observed that the protector may be attached to the switch point in the ield and at a minimum expense.

Having thus described the invention, claim:

l. In a vrailway switch, a protector reversibly mounted vupon and carried by the switch point.

2. In a railway switch,v a protector mounted upon and carried by the switch point, said protector consisting of a tubular body and an ofstanding,` wing, one side of the wing' being at and the opposite side curving' transversely and longitudinally.

3. A reversible 'switch point protector adapted to be mounted upon and carried by the switch point, the same comprising a tubular body and oppositely disposed wings, one side of the wings being' flat andl the opposite side curving transversely and longitudinally.

4. In a Yrailway switch and in combination with the switchr point, an arm projecting` longitudinally from the extremity of `the switch point anda protector detachably and reversibly mounted upon the projecting end of the arm and comprising a tubular body and oppositely disposed wings which have the sides facing outwardly Jtrom the track rail transversely and longitudinally curved.

5. In a railway switch, and in Combination with the switch point, an arm attached at one end to the switch point and having; its opposite end projecting and ot' non-cireular outline in cross section and having its terminal portion threaded, a protectorl mounted upon the projectingl end ot said arm and comprising a tubular body and oppositely disposed wings, one side of the wings being l'iat and the opposite side being` transversely and longitudinally curved, the opening of the tubular body snugly litting,` the projecting` end of the arm and held from turningl thereon, and a. nut iittedto the threaded terminal 'of the jarm to retain the protector in place thereon. y

1n testimony whereof I affix my signa'- ture.

RICHARD EDV/TN VEEDON. [L s] 

